Take a look at the screenshot below and you could be forgiven for thinking that you are looking at a Windows10 desktop.
Desktop Screenshot
In fact, it is Linux from Brazil!
There are more Linux computers coming on the market, so it is possible to buy a laptop, even a relatively low-cost laptop that is pre-installed with a Linux distribution. This is good because it means that Linux is gaining traction in the desktop OS space. Linux dominates the cloud, servers, hadron colliders, major astronomical telescope observatories and supercomputers. There is no reason why Linux should not play a bigger role in desktop computing currently dominated by Microsoft and Apple, and Chrome OS (based on the Linux Kernel plus Crostini (Linux virtual system) with Android, also based on the Linux Kernel, and all in one system) gaining some traction as an alternative to Windows and MacOS. However, full-blown Linux is very secure and very powerful and is growing in use as a desktop computing operating system and is just as easy to use as Windows or MacOS.
There are Linux distributions that have been made to ease the movement from Windows 7 over to Linux, by making the user interface more familiar to a Windows 7 user. Linux Lite is one such distribution, but there are others as well. What all these distributions do is to choose a desktop environment that can be configured to be reminiscent of Windows 7. Unlike Windows, which has just one desktop environment, take it or leave it; Linux has a selection of desktop environments that will suit any user’s requirements.
There is, however, a Linux distribution that has taken this approach to the extreme. It is a Brazillian distribution, variously called Windowsfx, Linuxfx or WinFx. This distribution is based on Ubuntu with an XFCE desktop environment configured to look and behave as much like Windows10 as possible. This similarity goes as far as using Windows style icons and even a Windows wallpaper. As you can see from the screenshot above, the resemblance is very convincing.
The experience of using Windowsfx is about as close to the experience of using Windows10 as is possible. The experience is just as good and should convince any Windows user who is thinking of moving over to Linux, to give it a try. It comes with a full gamut of software such as Libre Office, the Gimp, VLC Media Player, Rhythmbox and a plethora of other programs. Windowsfx comes with pre-installed Wine, so that a multitude of Windows programs can be run. It also comes with pre-installed Steam for those inclined towards games activity.
Screenshot of the Start menu
It can be seen that the Start menu is similar to, but by no means identical to, the Windows10 Start menu. It is, nevertheless, completely intuitive and arguably better than the Windows version.
Virtual desktops are accessed using the same icon on the taskbar as they are in Windows10, they are presented in a way very similar to the virtual workspaces in Windows10.
Screenshot of virtual desktops (Workspaces) in Windowsfx
As stated earlier, Windowsfx comes with Wine (The Windows compatibility layer). It has a nice way of launching a Windows program by a curve of progressing coloured circles.
Screenshot showing the launching of a Windows program.
The Windows programs that we installed as astronomers, were, Deep Sky Stacker, Autostakkert!, Registax 5.1, FastStone Viewer and Fitswork.
Of course, of most importance to us was the fact that AstroDMx Capture for Linux installs and runs perfectly.
Screenshot of AstroDMx Capture for Linux, launching in Windowsfx
We have found, so far, no problems with Windowsfx and running the software that we wish to run.
However, what’s in a name?
You might think that the Windowsfx distribution is pushing its luck with its choice of name. It could draw lawsuits from Microsoft, but I personally doubt this.
My reasons for thinking this are based on several things:
First, the name seems to be an obfuscating melange of Windowsfx, Linuxfx and Winfx. The last two letters of the names ‘fx’ are an accepted abbreviation of ‘effects’ so the name really means Windows effects where ‘Windows’ doesn’t necessarily refer to the Windows OS, but more to the common use of the word ‘windows’ in computing.
Second, and related to this is historical. Back in 2001 a distribution of Linux was produced by Lindows Inc., that was named ‘Lindows’. In 2002 Lindows Inc. was sued by Microsoft who claimed that the name was an infringement of its Windows trademark. Microsoft’s claim was rejected on the grounds that the term ‘windows’ was a term used to describe windowing techniques developed by Xerox and Apple, long before Microsoft released its Windows Operating system. Microsoft sought a retrial, which may not have been the wisest thing to do because there was always the possibility that failure in court again might undermine their trademark. In 2004 the retrial was postponed, and Microsoft settled out of court. Microsoft agreed to pay an estimated $20 million, and Lindows Inc. Transferred the Lindows trademark to Microsoft and renamed itself, Linspire Inc. It may be best if Microsoft doesn’t re-open this can of worms and possibly live to regret it.
Third, there have been other daring uses of Windows-like names, such a Winux, a system that never really got off the ground and was never a threat to Microsoft.
Fourth, it is probably not worth Microsoft bothering with, as the whole multitude of Linux distributions only takes a relatively small proportion of the potential desktop market share.
Windowsfx has been implemented well and would, without doubt smooth the way for a person to move from using Windows to using Linux.
We are looking forward to testing this Linux distribution, Windowsfx, as a scientific, astronomical imaging platform.
AstroDMx Capture for Windows, macOS or Linux (Including Raspberry Pi) can be downloaded freely here:
